Connor is a Hydrologist - Groundwater Specialist with the Colorado Water Science Center (COWSC), in Lakewood, CO.
As groundwater specialist for the Colorado Water Science Center, Connor focuses on investigations including evaluation of groundwater/surface-water interactions, groundwater geochemistry, groundwater modeling, and studies of acid mine drainage. Connor applies an integrated suite of methods including physical, geochemical, and statistical tools in an effort to better understand water resources of Colorado, and to provide this information to stakeholders and water managers. Connor also assists other USGS staff with the design of groundwater investigations and participates in public outreach.
Professional Experience
2015-2016 – Staff Hydrogeologist, Itasca Denver, Inc.
2016-2018 – Environmental Scientist, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
2018-Present – Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Education and Certifications
Master of Science, Geology, 2014. University of Nevada, Reno
Bachelor of Arts, Geology, 2011. University of Colorado, Boulder
Affiliations and Memberships*
Professional Geologist - Wyoming (PG-4139)
Science and Products
Data supporting management of thermal springs –Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Hydrology of an Artesian Aquifer near Manitou Springs, Colorado
Hydrology of and potential for groundwater storage in the alluvial aquifer in the Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado
Analytic-element groundwater-flow model of the Captain Jack Superfund Site, Boulder County, Colorado
Water-level and well-discharge data related to aquifer testing in Fountain Creek alluvial aquifer, El Paso County, Colorado, 2019
Hydrologic and Geochemical Data and Models Supporting Integrated Evaluation of the Captain Jack Superfund Site, Boulder County, Colorado
Passive seismic (HVSR) data from Fountain Creek, CO
Water-level and pumping data, water-level models, and estimated hydraulic properties for the Paradox Valley alluvial aquifer in Montrose County, Colorado, 2013
Environmental-tracer modeling to support hydrogeochemical evaluation of the Fountain Creek Alluvial Aquifer, El Paso County, Colorado, 2018-2019
Water-level and well-discharge data related to aquifer testing in Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado, 2019
Mechanisms of water-rock interaction and implications for remediating flooded mine workings elucidated from environmental tracers, stable isotopes, and rare earth elements
Hydrologic compartmentalization and analytic-element groundwater-flow simulations for a draining mine tunnel
Opportunities to improve water quality during abandoned mine-tunnel reclamation
Assessing specific-capacity data and short-term aquifer testing to estimate hydraulic properties in alluvial aquifers of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA
Using an unmanned aerial vehicle water sampler to gather data in a pit-lake mining environment to assess closure and monitoring
Natural and anthropogenic geochemical tracers to investigate residence times and groundwater–surface-water interactions in an urban alluvial aquifer
NGWA Groundwater Modeling Advisory Panel Survey on the Use of Uncertainty Analysis in Groundwater Modeling
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Science
Data supporting management of thermal springs –Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the city of Steamboat Springs and the Tread of Pioneers Museum, is undertaking a geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical study to better understand the sources of water to hot springs and the possible effects of land use change and human activities on the chemistry and sustainability of springs.Hydrology of an Artesian Aquifer near Manitou Springs, Colorado
The area surrounding Manitou Springs, Colorado is host to numerous bedrock springs, which help to support the local economy through tourist visitation. Although many springs previously flowed directly to the surface, most of the “springs” in the area are now more strictly classified as flowing artesian wells completed in the Manitou Formation, a cavernous intermixed limestone and dolomite, which...Hydrology of and potential for groundwater storage in the alluvial aquifer in the Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado
Hydrologic analysis of the alluvial aquifer in the Wet Mountain Valley has been undertaken using synoptic streamflow and groundwater-level elevation measurements, aquifer tests, water-quality sampling and data analysis, and numerical groundwater-flow modeling. These datasets together provide an encompassing view of the interconnected water resources in the area and allow for quantitative... - Data
Analytic-element groundwater-flow model of the Captain Jack Superfund Site, Boulder County, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) used an analytic-element method (AEM) modeling approach to quantitatively understand groundwater dynamics at the Captain Jack Superfund Site, located in Boulder County, Colorado. The Captain Jack Superfund Site hosts extensive interconnected underground mine workings.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has instituted a remedial strategy of impounding water wiWater-level and well-discharge data related to aquifer testing in Fountain Creek alluvial aquifer, El Paso County, Colorado, 2019
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Center conducted short-term aquifer tests at 11 wells to estimate hydraulic properties in the Fountain Creek alluvial aquifer, in El Paso County, Colorado. Data were collected in July 2019 over three days. Single-hole pumping and recovery tests were completed at five wells, and multiple single-hole displacementHydrologic and Geochemical Data and Models Supporting Integrated Evaluation of the Captain Jack Superfund Site, Boulder County, Colorado
The Captain Jack Superfund site near Ward, Colorado hosts extensive interconnected underground mine workings, which drain via the Big Five Adit. Drainage from the adit has historically been acidic with elevated concentrations of metals. In 2018 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) utilized a subsurface remediation strategy consisting of the installation of a hydraulic bulkhead within thePassive seismic (HVSR) data from Fountain Creek, CO
A total of 119 passive seismic soundings were collected with Tromino (MoHo s.r.l.) 3-axis seismometers in the Fountain Creek area to partially refine alluvial aquifer thickness (depth to bedrock) estimates, particularly over known or suspected paleochannels. Data were collected during June 21-24, 2021 with a team of 4-5 people, each equipped with a Tromino Blu or Tromino 3G passive seismometer.Water-level and pumping data, water-level models, and estimated hydraulic properties for the Paradox Valley alluvial aquifer in Montrose County, Colorado, 2013
Aquifer testing was conducted in the Paradox Valley alluvial aquifer in Montrose County, Colorado, including short-term (slug tests) and long-term (pumping tests) stresses on the hydrologic system to determine hydraulic properties of the aquifer. Slug tests were conducted at four wells in March 2013, with only one well producing data that could be interpreted using analytical solutions. In the othEnvironmental-tracer modeling to support hydrogeochemical evaluation of the Fountain Creek Alluvial Aquifer, El Paso County, Colorado, 2018-2019
This data release contains environmental tracer concentrations, modeled recharge conditions (water temperature, excess air), and resulting estimated groundwater residence times. This dataset supports an integrated hydrogeochemical investigation of solute sources, groundwater recharge processes, and groundwater flow in the Fountain Creek alluvial aquifer. The data release contains five comma separWater-level and well-discharge data related to aquifer testing in Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado, 2019
Short-term aquifer tests were conducted to estimate hydraulic properties in an alluvial aquifer. Tests included eight single-hole pumping and recovery tests and three slug tests (in a single well). These investigations were conducted in the Wet Mountain Valley, in Custer and Fremont Counties, Colorado. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted aquifer tests in May, 2019. These aquifer tests info - Multimedia
- Publications
Mechanisms of water-rock interaction and implications for remediating flooded mine workings elucidated from environmental tracers, stable isotopes, and rare earth elements
Contamination from acid mine drainage affects ecosystems and usability of groundwater for domestic and municipal purposes. The Captain Jack Superfund Site outside of Ward, Boulder County, Colorado, USA, hosts a draining mine adit that was remediated through emplacement of a hydraulic bulkhead to preclude acid mine drainage from entering nearby Lefthand Creek. During impoundment of water within theAuthorsConnor P. Newman, Katherine Walton-Day, Robert L. Runkel, Richard WilkinHydrologic compartmentalization and analytic-element groundwater-flow simulations for a draining mine tunnel
Draining mine tunnels contribute contaminants to groundwater and surface water, but remediation strategies may be hindered as hydrogeologic characterization and modeling of these heterogeneous features generally relies on sparse data sets. The Captain Jack mine site in Colorado, USA, presents a unique data set allowing for temporal evaluation of groundwater connectivity in the vicinity of an abandAuthorsConnor P. NewmanOpportunities to improve water quality during abandoned mine-tunnel reclamation
In the western United States, bulkheads are constructed to limit drainage from abandoned, draining mine adits and to protect downstream resources from uncontrolled releases of degraded adit water. Although bulkheads improve safety and water-quality conditions at the mouth of the adit, elevated hydraulic pressure behind the bulkhead often causes continuing water-quality problems in new locations. SAuthorsKatherine Walton-Day, James J. Gusek, Connor P. NewmanAssessing specific-capacity data and short-term aquifer testing to estimate hydraulic properties in alluvial aquifers of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA
Study Region: Rocky Mountains, United StatesStudy Focus: Groundwater-flow modeling requires estimates of hydraulic properties, namely hydraulic conductivity. Hydraulic conductivity values commonly vary over orders of magnitudes however and estimation may require extensive field campaigns applying slug or pumping tests. As an alternative, specific-capacity tests can be used to estimate hydraulic prAuthorsConnor P. Newman, Zachary D. Kisfalusi, Michael J. HolmbergUsing an unmanned aerial vehicle water sampler to gather data in a pit-lake mining environment to assess closure and monitoring
Residual pit lakes from mining are often dangerous to sample for water quality. Thus, pit lakes may be rarely (or never) sampled. This study developed new technology in which water-sampling devices, mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), were used to sample three pit lakes in Nevada, USA, during 1 week in 2017. Water-quality datasets from two of the three pit lakes on public lands, Dexter anAuthorsBrian Straight, Devin Castendyk, Diane M. McKnight, Connor P. Newman, Pierre Filiatreault, Americo PinoNatural and anthropogenic geochemical tracers to investigate residence times and groundwater–surface-water interactions in an urban alluvial aquifer
A multi-component geochemical dataset was collected from groundwater and surface-water bodies associated with the urban Fountain Creek alluvial aquifer, Colorado, USA, to facilitate analysis of recharge sources, geochemical interactions, and groundwater-residence times. Results indicate that groundwater can be separated into three distinct geochemical zones based on location within the flow systemAuthorsConnor P. Newman, Suzanne Paschke, Gabrielle L. KeithNGWA Groundwater Modeling Advisory Panel Survey on the Use of Uncertainty Analysis in Groundwater Modeling
This white paper provides the results of a survey by members of the NGWA Groundwater Modeling Advisory Panel to assess the use of uncertainty analysis in groundwater modeling.The objective of the survey was to improve understanding of the use of uncertainty analysis in practical groundwater modeling projects subject to real-world constraints, such as limited budgets and tight deadlines.AuthorsSteve Luis, Pete Schulmeyer, David Bean, Connor P. Newman, Dan Puddephatt, Rodney A. Sheets, Randall J. HuntNon-USGS Publications**
Newman, C.P., Poulson, S.R., and Hanna, B.T., 2020, Regional isotopic investigation of evaporation and water-rock interaction in mine pit lakes in Nevada, USA, Journal of Geochemical Exploration, vol. 210, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2019.106445.Newman, C.P., Poulson, S.R., and McCrea, K.W., 2019, Contaminant generation and transport from mine pit lake to perennial stream system: Multidisciplinary investigations at the Big Ledge Mine, Nevada, USA, Geochemistry, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2019.125552.Newman, C.P., 2019, A quantitative framework for comparing observed and simulated pit-lake geochemistry, Mine Water and the Environment, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-019-00634-0.Newman, C.P., Gray, T.G., 2019, Statistical and geochemical analysis of arsenic mobilization and natural background associated with artificial groundwater recharge, Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 78, no. 298, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8300-6.Newman, C.P., 2019, Variation in groundwater recharge and surface-water quality due to climatic extremes in semi-arid mountainous watersheds, Hydrogeology Journal, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 1627-1643, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-01967-4.Newman, C.P., Cluff, T., Gray, T., and Beale, G., 2019, Aqueous geochemistry and limnology of the Sleeper pit lake, Nevada, USA: Evidence for long-term subaqueous solute generation in mine pit lakes, Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 64-81, https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2019.73004.Newman, C.P., McCrea, K.W., Zimmerman, J., Burke, G., and Anderson, S., 2019, Geochemistry, mineralogy and acid-generating behavior of efflorescent sulfate salts in underground mines in Nevada, U.S.A., Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, DOI: 10.1144/geochem2018-074Newman, C.P., 2018, Geoscience education and public outreach in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA, Rocky Mountain Geology, vol. 53, no. 1, DOI: 10.24872/rmgjournal.53.1.45.Newman, C.P., 2017, Design and implementation of a geochemical and hydrologic database for Nevada mine sites, Journal of the Nevada Water Resources Association, Summer 2017, pp. 5-16, DOI: 10.22542/3.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government